# What did you do with the remains of your last deceased pet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 15, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425 "2011-04-15T01:10:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/21 "2011-04-15T13:18:22Z")
I brought Whitey the Wonder Cat’s body home from the vet late in the morning and held him until late in the afternoon. Then I wrapped him in a pillowcase and buried him in a corner of the yard. I moved from that house about a year later and considered bringing him with me, but in the end it just didn’t seem fitting to disturb him and bring him to a place he’d never been. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/22 "2011-04-15T13:32:55Z")
> [@Scubaqueen](#): > > Doesn’t everybody have their cat’s ashes on their nightstand? 😃 My little Papillon boy Jay died in 2007. He had always loved sleeping in my bookcase headboard- the first night I had the bed, I actually had put some, you know… books… in it, and he climbed up there and literally shoved the books out and made himself at home. When he died, I had him individually cremated and his remains returned to me in a little wooden box with his picture on it. That box was placed in the headboard bookcase, and has been there ever since. So… your cat on your nightstand doesn’t seem odd to me at all… ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/23 "2011-04-15T14:23:06Z")
My lovely little cat which I’ve had for 16 years, died last week. I buried her in the garden and planted a rose bush on top. It’s going to be the best looked after rose ever. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/24 "2011-04-15T14:33:08Z")
Cremated. Returned by animal hospital in a sealed cedar box with a nameplate. She resides on the mantel. They also made a paw impression on a clay disc. That was nice. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/25 "2011-04-15T15:41:07Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > After the vet put our 20-year-old cat to sleep, she offered to dispose of the remains. We said yes. The whole process was painful enough already - we didn’t want to extend it. That’s what we did too with our 18 year old dog. The funny thing was that although I was 22 at the time, I didn’t feel that bad when he passed- he’d been in a lot of pain beforehand, and I knew that this was the best thing. I felt worse for my mother than anyone- he was sort of like her third son in a lot of ways (he was between me and my brother in age). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/26 "2011-04-15T15:52:50Z")
In the past 12 years, we’ve lost two dogs and a cat; my wife had all three of them cremated. She continues to dither on whether she wants to bury the ashes in the yard, or put them in little urns. So, all three sets of ashes are still in the little shipping cartons from the animal cemetery. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/27 "2011-04-15T15:57:10Z")
Our kitty Cuervo’s kidneys were failing so badly he could no longer walk. It was both an easy decision and the hardest thing ever to have him euthanized that night. After administering the injection, the vet told us we could stay as long as we liked, and left the room. We said our goodbyes and left him there on the table. That may sound cold, but I don’t think it was. We knew that wasn’t Cuervo anymore, just a dead cat body. We have many photos and fond memories – didn’t really need ashes or a burial ritual. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/28 "2011-04-15T16:00:20Z")
Um, I bagged the corpse well and put it in the dumpster. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/29 "2011-04-15T16:18:41Z")
Group cremation. The ex plans to have his dog individually cremated so that the ashes can be saved to be buried with him later. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/30 "2011-04-15T18:01:00Z")
I chose “Individual cremation (no ashes back),” but then realized that I actually don’t know: when the vet came to put my 18-year-old cat, Smokey, to sleep, I let her take the corpse away and dispose of it. I’m really not sure what happened to the body, but I’d bet it was either individually or group cremated. I definitely did not get (nor did I want) any ashes returned to me. My dog is almost three years old, and I can’t even think about what I’ll want to do with her remains when the time comes. I already know that losing her will be much, much worse than losing the cat was – and losing the cat was hard. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/31 "2011-04-15T18:51:35Z")
We have two cats buried in our back yard with a few little stone memorial things around. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/32 "2011-04-15T18:59:01Z")
I have large dogs and Tennessee is limestone once you reach about 6" down. My vet cremated my dogs. I don’t need their remains to remember them. StG ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Nathan\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nathan_S)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/33 "2011-04-15T19:23:47Z")
I had to have my dog put down just a few days ago, after she was hit by a car. Man, did that suck. Anyway, I buried her that night in my yard. You’re not supposed to do that here (Italy), for public health reasons, I suppose. To hell with that … ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/34 "2011-04-15T19:27:40Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > He’s pining for the fjords! I wonder if people would make these kinds of jokes about dogs and cats. ☹ Parrots are loved pets, too. I only pick on you doggie, and Sunspace, because you two know I don’t mean it personally. I have all reptiles and I bury them in the backyard. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/35 "2011-04-15T20:57:10Z")
I picked other - I had the vet take care of it. Neither my husband nor I are in any condition to dig a grave in the yard, and I didn’t want her ashes. I have photos and lots of memories - nothing else matters to me. I suppose some find that cold, but once she was gone, that was it. We had rescued her, we gave her a good life, spoiled her a bit, and let her go when it was time. It was the same for the the last 2 cats and it will be the same for the rest of our menagerie. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/36 "2011-04-15T21:09:29Z")
Our young cat recently died while we were at the vets, after he’d had an accident. We brought his body home and buried him in the backyard with the help of our two kids; it helped them cope better than his just disapearing would have, and they got to help choose and plant flowers over his grave. We’ll continue adding flowers over the summer until it ends up being a beautiful little garden. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/37 "2011-04-15T21:33:37Z")
Individual cremation and got his ashes back. My dad made a lovely wooden box for them with his name engraved on it and it sits on the entertainment center at my dad’s house. At Christmas-time, we still hang his stocking in front of it. Yep, the **Surly** family is weird. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/38 "2011-04-15T21:36:12Z")
Our catfish went unceremoniously in the trash after five years of frantic life. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/39 "2011-04-15T22:28:07Z")
Funeral pyre. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425/40 "2011-04-15T22:39:13Z")
My first dog had her ashes scattered at a pet cemetery that I have never visited. Despite working down the street from it for about 2 years. So when My next dog’s kidneys failed and we had to put her down we opted for the group cremation. The landfill in my hometown had a dead animal pit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-do-with-the-remains-of-your-last-deceased-pet/578425.md?page=3)